Junior Grange Campers Find Kid/' (Continued from Page B 14) mittee members graded the tests and another committee member and a guest at camp regraded them Tuesday morning to ensure their accuracy. With scores ranging from 74 to 97 percent, the court was introduced as their names were randomly drawn out of a hat fol lowing lunch on Tuesday. The court (listed here in alphabetical order starting with the girls’ name, their Junior Grange and home county) included Nichole Blair, Perry Valley, Perry County; Vicki Kieffer, Marion, Berks County; Shelley Reppert, Virginville, Berks County; Marci Schaeffer, Pioneer, Berks County; and Rebecca Vonada, Logan, Centre County. Prince candidates were; Nick Fishkovitz, Big Knob, Beaver County; Andrew Keiffer, Marion, Berks County; Jeff Ruckert, Big Knob, Beaver County; and Dave and Doug Sattazahn, both of Marion, Berks County. There was no time to cele brate, however; immediately fol lowing the announcement came the next and most frightening round. Step 2 - Impromptu question This, undoubtedly is the most nerve-racking portion of the con test ‘The impromptu question is definitely the hardest,” 13-year old David Sattazahn said. “Going into it you don’t have much time, you’re in front of your peers and you’re afraid that you might mess up in front of all those people looking at vou.” Following the announcement of the court, they were quickly ATTENTION DAIRY FARMERS! TIRED of the small lOt to 15<t incentives to stay where you’re at? ARE WE NOT WORTH MORE THAN CENTS? FARMERS do we not have the product? (THE POWER IS IN THE TANK) ARMPPA is now working with farmers who want to price their milk before it leaves the farm . LAST 40 YEARS PRICING HISTORY (Based on M&W series and Basic Formula Price) 1963 - $3.11 1973 - $6.30 1983 - $12.49 1993 - $ll.BO 1997 - $12.05 IT IS FINALLY ANNOUNCED THAT THERE IS A SEVERE SHORTAGE!! HOW MANY OF YOU DAIRY FARMERS ARE MAKING MONEY.FROM IT??? LET’S COMPARE OUR MILK CHECK TO THE CO-OP’S PAYCHECK. THAT’S A MILLION DOLLAR STATEMENT. For more information, call toll free: East Coast ARMPPA Office 1-877-367-6455 ushered outside the dining hall where they were told that they would answer in the same order as their name had been selected. One by one, each contestant must enter the dining hall, walk to the microphone and, in front of about 90 sets of staring eyes, give an answer to an unknown question. Despite the nervousness that filled the air, it quickly became evident that these kids do, indeed, have the qualities the judges are looking for as they answered the question: “What problems do you see in the world today, and how can we make them better?” Answers varied from a need for more recycling to ending poverty and starvation and how the Grange could play a role in addressing these problems. One problem, however, seemed to be on their minds more than any other: violence. “Kids with guns and using them in school,” Rebecca Vonada said. “Maybe we need more strict gun laws or do a better job ' of informing kids about the con sequences.” “Drugs and gangs,” Nichole Blair said. “We need to get the guns and weapons and knives off the street. We should, use the Grange, our schools and the community in general, to pro vide activities to keep kids from hanging out on the streets.” “The biggest problem I see is all the fighting that is going on in the world,” Jeff Ruckert said. “I can try and do something as an individual, but as a group, it would be nice if we would work together to help each other out and get along with one another.” Pretty heady stuff from kids who, for the most part, were try ing to fight back the butterflies TIRED of low milk checks? TIRED of unpaid bills? TIRED of hearing “THERESA SURPLUS... BECOME MORE EFFICIENT...MAKE MORE MILK... AMERICAN RAW MILK PRODUCERS PRICING ASSOCIATION “ARMPPA” We are now in 18 ARMPPA is not a milk plant, but simply a price setting agency striving to work with all existing milk handlers. in their stomachs. It is all over in a few minutes - but those few minutes seem like an eternity. Step 3 - The group interview Unlike the impromptu ques tion, this round is a “rap” ses sion with Campbell to allow the court to share their feelings about important issues in a relaxed atmosphere. As the director asked the questions, the'" group sat in a semi-circle and answered her informally and very politely. Based on the answers the campers gave at the impromptu session, Campbell decided to follow up with the issue of violence in today’s soci ety. Vicki Kieffer felt that the media was partly to blame for being too negative and suggest ed that they offer some of the better things occurring in our communities. Doug Sattazahn, as did sev eral others, said the Grange should sponsor activities for youths because the ones who get in trouble “have too much time on their hands.” Dave Sattazahn, Doug’s twin brother, said youths should join the Grange instead of gangs as they seek acceptance from their peers. With three of the five judging categories behind them, the court had a 24-hour reprieve before the next round. Step 4 - Individual interviews This is arguably the easiest, and therefore, the most enjoy able of all the categories During recreation time on Wednesday morning, each court member sat down with three judges to answer six questions ttates and still 5 >*-' *r " Junior Grange campers Bald Eagle State Park near about themselves, their non- Grange activities and how they would involve juniors at the sub ordinate Grange level. Two contestants said they enjoyed the individual interview because it offers them the oppor tunity to “let their hair down” and be themselves. “I liked the individual inter view those most,” Shelley Reppert said. “I felt relaxed and that allowed me to give confi dent answers.” “All in all, I’d say they were pretty relaxed,” junior commit tee member and judge Kelly Van Ord said. “We told them that we had a couple of questions for them and to simply relax and answer them to the best of their ability" As the end finally appears on the horizon, there is just one more stop on the journey Step 5 - The essay question Interestingly enough, one of the six questions during the individual interview was also the question for the 500-word rowing!! Lancaster Farming, Saturday, August 8, 1998-817 v i' enjoy a refreshing dip in the take at Howard in Centre County. written essay. This happened because Campbell selected the essay question while the three judges were required to come up with two questions for each indi vidual interview. The question? “What do you think about being required to wear uniforms to school?” As might be expected some supported the idea and listed their reasons while others felt it hurt individuality and freedom of speech. “More said ‘yes,’ they should wear them than said ‘no’ and that was kind of surprising,” Van Ord said. “But I don’t recall anyone saying they wanted to wear them.” Two committee members read essays to three judges as the judges ranked each one on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the very best During steps 2-5, the judging is performed the same way. TVo court members could score, say a 4 out of a 5, in a par ticular category. All four cate- ••f gories are tallied, plus the judges’ preference, and the boy and girl with the highest scores are the new prince and princess. (The judges’ prefer ence is factored based on several criteria including the contes tants’ behavior during camp, attitude and how helpful they are to others at camp.) With the judging over, all the campers can do is wait for the coronation pageant on Friday night. As the time ticks by and Thursday gives way to Friday, those pesky butterflies return By Friday after noon several contes tant say they are ner vous, but would be happy for whomever the new royalty is because they are all such close friends. Statements like that make you wish you could give the prince and princess tjjtle to all the candi dates. But, alas, only one boy and girl get to live the dream As the pressure mounts, the evening meal give way to dressing up -for the pageant (Turn to Page 8181
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers